BUSINESS

  technology

A Future in Three Dimensions

How one company offers eyewear employing 3D-printing technology.

APRIL JASPER, O.D.

This month’s column is a conversation with Richart Ruddie, founding partner of Protos Eyewear, a San Franscisco-based company that employs 3D-printer technology to provide stock or custom-fit eyewear. The customized eyewear is made via an algorithm that analyzes facial features from two photographs. The company recently met its funding goals and is accepting pre-orders. (See www.protoseyewear.com.)

Richart Ruddie and Doug Poincano, of Protos Eyewear, examining an early set of frames created by their 3D printer.

Currently, Protos Eyewear makes prescription spectacles (non-progressives) and non-prescription sunwear that can be ordered online. The frames are comprised of hypoallergenic bioplastics, and all lenses are lightweight polycarbonate with anti-reflective, anti-scratch and a UV 400 coating. Sunglasses come with polarized lenses.

To acquire Protos Eyewear, a consumer must capture a front and side photo of himself.

Then, the company e-mails three style recommendations and invites the consumer to select a Protos Eyewear frame — either one of the company-recommended styles or one of the consumer’s own choosing — and provide prescription information. (See “Other 3D Eyewear Players,” page 63.)

Q: Who is the target customer for Protos Eyewear?

A: Innovative and forward-looking fashionable people and techies are the biggest current customers.

Q: How long does it take to create the custom-fit eyewear?

A: Eventually, it will be less than an hour. Right now, it takes four to eight times that, depending on various factors, such as the machine being used, calibrations, materials and other in-depth factors.

Q: How many frames are you able to make per day?

A: Scaling is so feasible. It takes the same amount of time to create one as it does to create 50 pairs. Traditional manufacturing requires different processes that make it possible to make one design at a time, and the tooling cost is extremely expensive; 3D printing takes that out of the equation. The amount of output we can handle is dependent on demand. We can handle any order size.

Q: Who supplies the lenses?

A: That we cannot reveal publicly, but we use one of the highest-quality lenses you can find.

Q: In what colors are the frames available?

A: As of right now we are perfecting frames in the color black, as that is 70% of the market.

Q: How does Protos Eyewear make style recommendations?

A: One of our team members is a celebrity stylist. This team member has 15 years of experience styling frames. That has helped our design and styling aspect so much in the development process.

Q: Do you think other frame manufacturers will begin using this same process soon?

A: We are in talks to handle all of the development of a few private-label manufacturers. These private-label manufacturers create luxury eyewear lines, and one of the biggest players in glasses is trying to work with Protos.

Q: Do you see working with independent doctor’s offices and opticals as part of your business plan?

A: Yes we do. We have interest from doctors and retail outlets worldwide. The opticians really love what Protos Eyewear is doing.

Q: What is your plan for the future of your company?

A: The sky is the limit. We plan to integrate mass customization for all eyewear users. You can scan your face and get glasses shipped to you within 24 to 48 hours that are fit to your face. This is the big picture plan. OM

Dr. Jasper is a Vision Source Administrator and in private practice in West Palm Beach, Fla. E-mail her at drjasper@aeswpb.com, or comment at optometricmanagement@gmail.com.